2 arrested in September attack of Surry County man

Man critically injured, couldn't speak with deputies until recently

Two people are in custody after a lengthy investigation into a September attack that left a Mount Airy man critically injured.

Jennifer Dawn Hayes, 31, of Prison Camp Road, and Rebel Steiner Akers, 56, of Hillsville, Va., have been arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping in connection with a Sept. 16, attack on Kevin Bradley Sumner.

Akers also is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill, inflicting serious bodily injury.

Sheriff Graham Atkinson said said the investigation began after authorities received a call for help.

“We received a 911 call early in the morning on Sept. 16, that shots had been fired at the home of Terry Long at 800 Oak Grove Road,” he said, noting that initially little information was available.

“Officers were not able to get anyone at the residence to give information on the phone, but were able to talk Akers and Hayes into coming out of the residence,” Atkinson added.

When Akers and Hayes exited the residence, they told officers there was another armed person in the home, according to the sheriff.

The incident was initially reported as a home invasion, and officers entered the residence, where they discovered Sumner on the floor with a gunshot wound to his chest and a large cut on his head.

“He was unarmed,” Atkinson said.

Police report that Akers said he was at the home, and that Sumner and two other men had entered the house without permission looking for Long, the owner of the residence.

“(Akers) said when he told them Long was not home, there was a confrontation and Sumner was shot,” he said.

Sumner told deputies that he had gone to the residence with two Hispanic men, who had left the scene, but he was unable to give a complete statement at the time due to the injuries he had sustained, according to the sheriff.

“The investigation was prolonged by the victim’s injuries, which left him unable to speak with officers until last week,” Atkinson said.

Investigators were also reportedly able to locate and interview the two Hispanic men who were with Sumner at the time of the alleged crime.

“When they told a different version of events, warrants were issued charging Akers and Hayes in the incident,” Atkinson said.

Akers is being held in the Surry County Jail without bond, while Hayes is being held on a $200,000 bond, according to the sheriff’s office.

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